While its exact causes are unknown, Alzheimer’s disease is commonly associated with clumps of toxic amyloid plaques in the brain, and researchers are continuing to understand the different components that help them take shape. Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new compound that attacks a number of the key players in the formation of amyloid plaques, significantly decreasing the level of plaques and reducing inflammation in the brain.

The presence of amyloid plaque buildup is considered a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, but it is thought that damage begins to occur in the brain long before these clumps appear. A great deal of research into the disease seeks to attack the building blocks of amyloid plaques. This includes protein fragments called beta-amyloid peptides, which may pose an even greater threat than the plaques themselves.

“Studies have found strong evidence that these soluble peptides are the most neurotoxic species and are causing memory loss and neuron cell death,” says Liviu Mirica, who led the new research. “Plaque formation might be an attempt by the brain to neutralize the threat.”

Along with beta-amyloid peptides, recent research has begun to illuminate the role metal ions might play in driving Alzheimer’s progression. Post-mortem studies have uncovered elevated levels of copper, iron, and zinc in the brains of sufferers, which are thought to interact with and stabilize the beta-amyloid peptides, as well as increasing oxidative stress and brain inflammation.

A new study has shown that an experimental class of cancer drugs has wider potential than previously thought. BET inhibitors are currently being tested against blood cancers, but now researchers have found a new version of this drug that, in mouse tests, can target solid tumors too. read more

The natural world is a huge source of life-saving drugs, with plants and animals providing us with all kinds of therapeutic compounds throughout human history. That extends to the sponges that inhabit the seas, with new research detailing how a molecule derived from an Indonesian sea sponge species proved capable of preventing cervical cancer growth in the lab. read more

A new study has tracked the potency of cannabis products across a number of American states, finding the majority of medical marijuana is stronger than it needs to be for pain relief purposes. The research suggests higher THC levels are unnecessary for medical uses and can increase the risk of negative side effects.

by: Brent Smith

On Tuesday, the ultra-leftist Guardian website posted an article entitled: “Arizona man dies after attempting to take Trump coronavirus ‘cure’.”

Well that’s a surprise on at least two fronts. First – I wasn’t aware that Trump was president, a doctor and a research scientist. Who knew?

And second, what kind of moron would drink fish tank cleaner – for any reason?

Oh and there is a third point, yet it’s no surprise. It’s the Guardian’s practice of yellow journalism when it comes to reporting on Trump.

If one would read the entire article, you don’t discover the facts, as they are, until paragraph 11 – at least three quarters of the way through the article. The article is only 15 paragraphs long. read more

from Brent Smith for World Net Daily:

Something rather remarkable has occurred just recently regarding the Chinese/Wuhan coronavirus. And yes, I said it. Go ahead and call me a racist if you wish.

A treatment has been developed that shows promise at stopping the virus in virtually all patients for whom it’s been administered.

Early tests suggest that it can stop the virus from being contagious in just six days, with little to no side effects.

This is a huge breakthrough that’s happened in no time flat.

I stress that this appears effective as a treatment. It is not a vaccine, but if it’s as effective as advertised, it will buy the time needed to develop one.

Professor Didier Raoult from infection hospital l’Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection in Marseille, France, said that, “the first COVID-19 patients he had treated with the drug chloroquine had seen a rapid and effective speeding up of their healing process, and a sharp decrease in the amount of time they remained contagious.” read more

Colloidal silver, herbal supplements and essential oils are among a number of products currently being fraudulently promoted as cures for COVID-19, as the US Food and Drug Administration targets seven companies peddling unproven treatments. read more

They mightn’t seem like the most obvious places to look, but the venom of deadly creatures like spiders, snakes and scorpions are an increasingly rich source of medicines for human health. The latest example of this comes from scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, who have discovered a tiny protein in scorpion venom that could become part of a potent new treatment for arthritis. read more

from NBC:

Scientists were close to a coronavirus vaccine years ago. Then the money dried up.

“We just could not generate much interest,” a researcher said of the difficulty in getting funding to test the vaccine in humans.

Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital’s Center for Vaccine Development in Houston, at his lab in 2012.

HOUSTON — Dr. Peter Hotez says he made the pitch to anyone who would listen. After years of research, his team of scientists in Texas had helped develop a vaccine to protect against a deadly strain of coronavirus. Now they needed money to begin testing it in humans. read more